GLASGOW and Edinburgh airports have both enjoyed their busiest April on record, with strong growth in both domestic and international passenger numbers.
However, Aberdeen Airport saw a slight year-on-year fall in its passenger numbers in April, and cited tougher times for the oil and gas sector as a possible reason.
Amanda McMillan, managing director of Glasgow Airport, said it was "hugely encouraging" to have recorded the busiest-ever April. She cited a "renewed confidence" among passengers and airlines.
Glasgow Airport said that its passenger numbers in April had totalled nearly 665,000, up more than 15 per cent on the same month of last year.
International passenger numbers at Glasgow last month, at nearly 324,000, were more than 20 per cent higher than in April 2014.
Glasgow's domestic passenger numbers in April were, at about 341,000, up by nearly 11 per cent on the same month of last year.
The airport cited an increase in demand for transatlantic services operated by Air Transat, between Glasgow and Canada, and by United to and from the US. Ryanair flights have also been providing a major boost to the airport's international passenger numbers in recent months, following the budget airline's establishment of a base at Glasgow last October.
Ms McMillan said: "We have enjoyed double-digit [percentage] growth in our passenger numbers for six consecutive months but to have recorded our busiest April ever is hugely encouraging.
"There certainly appears to be a renewed confidence amongst passengers and airlines alike and, with the launch of nine new services, including direct flights to Prague and Halifax, Nova Scotia, May promises to be yet another busy month."
Glasgow Airport said that its "hub carriers", including KLM, British Airways and Icelandair, had also enjoyed a busy month in April.
And the airport cited the beneficial impact of the "Easter getaway" on passenger numbers last month.
Edinburgh Airport said that its passenger numbers had totalled more than 928,000 in April, up by more than 10 per cent on the same month of last year.
Domestic passenger numbers at Edinburgh came in at nearly 433,000 last month, up by more than 11 per cent on April 2014, amid strong demand for services to and from London airports operated by Ryanair, Flybe and BA Cityflyer.
International passenger numbers at Edinburgh last month, at about 495,500, were up by more than nine per cent on April 2014.
Edinburgh Airport attributed this rise to increased numbers of flights to Dublin, Barcelona and Corfu with Ryanair.
Aberdeen Airport's passenger numbers in April, at 301,353, were down by nearly three per cent on the same month of last year.
Carol Benzie, managing director of Aberdeen Airport, said: "We have seen a modest decrease on previous passenger levels for April, which is possibly due to a tightening up on travel policies as a result of the current economic climate within the oil and gas sector."
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